The Fall
NoMeansNo Lyrics


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Do you know the meaning of ? this is love, this is love
(This is love, this is love
give me just a little shove
this love-)
This is

The end is nothing
And you begin with nothing much
It starts with something (you see something, you feel something)
A gentle touch, a vicious punch
Just lean on over (roll on over, please move over)
You will get a little shove
Over your shoulder
A whisper saying This is love, this is love
This is

First we feel
Then we fall

Baby he is crawling
The world before his eyes unfoldds
He's hearing voices (teeling stories, dirty stories)
And Baby does as he is told
The night is falling (Baby's crawling, voices calling)
Mommy's holding Daddy close
Baby hears her calling
Give me just a little shove, this is love
This is

First we feel
Then we fall

The Tower's falling
I think the dam's about to burst
The walls are falling (hear them rumble, see them tumble)
The light is blinding, you go first
It starts with nothing ( out of nothing, into nothing)
First and last, last and first
There's just one question
Do you know the meaning of? this is love,, this is love
(This is love, this is love
give me just a little shove
this is love-)
This is





First we feel
Then we fall

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to NoMeansNo's song "The Fall" can be interpreted in different ways, as it relies heavily on symbolism and the listener’s personal experience. At its core, the song is about the consuming nature of love and the transformative power it has over us. The opening lines repeat the phrase "this is love" over and over, almost as if the singer is trying to convince themselves or their partner of the reality of this love. The lines "give me just a little shove/ over your shoulder" imply a physical push or nudge, which can be seen as a metaphor for the momentum that love can bring into our lives.


The verses describe different scenarios where love is present. The first verse juxtaposes gentleness and violence, highlighting the range of emotions that can be evoked by love. The second verse describes a baby’s innocent perspective on the world, where they are told stories and blindly follow what they are told. The final verse is the most cryptic and apocalyptic, referencing the Tower of Babel and a dam about to burst. These allusions can be interpreted as the devastating effects that love can have, whether it be on an individual level or on a societal level.


Overall, "The Fall" suggests that love has the power to transform and even destroy us. It can bring us to heights of ecstasy but can also be our undoing. The repetition of "first we feel/ then we fall" implies the inevitability of the fall, as love inevitably leads to heartbreak.


Line by Line Meaning

Do you know the meaning of ? this is love, this is love
Asking if you understand what true love really is


(This is love, this is love give me just a little shove this love-)
Love can sometimes use force or a push


The end is nothing
At the end of life, nothing really matters or exists anymore


And you begin with nothing much
Life starts with little value, possessions or meaning


It starts with something (you see something, you feel something)
Life begins when you start to see and feel things around you


A gentle touch, a vicious punch
Life can bring both gentle and cruel experiences


Just lean on over (roll on over, please move over)
In order to move forward in life, sometimes you need to physically move or change direction


You will get a little shove Over your shoulder A whisper saying This is love, this is love
Events in life can give you a push or change in direction, and love can be silently powerful


First we feel Then we fall
Experiencing feelings can lead to falling in love or falling down in life


Baby he is crawling The world before his eyes unfolds
A child's perspective of the world is new and unfolding


He's hearing voices (telling stories, dirty stories) And Baby does as he is told
Innocence can be influenced by outside factors and may follow orders easily


The night is falling (Baby's crawling, voices calling) Mommy's holding Daddy close
As the day ends, familiar people and surroundings give comfort and security


Baby hears her calling Give me just a little shove, this is love
A mother's love can sometimes come across as forceful or protective


The Tower's falling I think the dam's about to burst
A major change or breaking point is imminent


The walls are falling (hear them rumble, see them tumble) The light is blinding, you go first
Everything is collapsing and it's hard to see what's next. You take the first step


There's just one question Do you know the meaning of? this is love, this is love
The ultimate question is whether you really understand the concept of love


(This is love, this is love give me just a little shove this is love-)
Love is not always easy, and may require a little push


First we feel Then we fall
In the end, it all starts with feeling and leads to falling in love or in life




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HUNT, POWER, RIVETT CARNAC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Mirek Pansky

Do you know the meaning of? - this is love, this is love
(This is love, this is love
give me just a little shove
this love-)
This is

The end is nothing
And you begin with nothing much
It starts with something (you see something, you feel something)
A gentle touch, a vicious punch
Just lean on over (roll on over, please move over)
You will get a little shove
Over your shoulder
A whisper saying "This is love, this is love-"
This is

First we feel
Then we fall

Baby he is crawling
The world before his eyes unfoldds
He's hearing voices (teeling stories, dirty stories)
And Baby does as he is told
The night is falling (Baby's crawling, voices calling)
Mommy's holding Daddy close
Baby hears her calling
"Give me just a little shove, this is love -"
This is

First we feel
Then we fall

The Tower's falling
I think the dam's about to burst
The walls are falling (hear them rumble, see them tumble)
The light is blinding, you go first
It starts with nothing ( out of nothing, into nothing)
First and last, last and first
There's just one question
Do you know the meaning of? -this is love,, this is love
(This is love, this is love
give me just a little shove
this is love-)
This is

First we feel
Then we fall



All comments from YouTube:

Mirek Pansky

Do you know the meaning of? - this is love, this is love
(This is love, this is love
give me just a little shove
this love-)
This is

The end is nothing
And you begin with nothing much
It starts with something (you see something, you feel something)
A gentle touch, a vicious punch
Just lean on over (roll on over, please move over)
You will get a little shove
Over your shoulder
A whisper saying "This is love, this is love-"
This is

First we feel
Then we fall

Baby he is crawling
The world before his eyes unfoldds
He's hearing voices (teeling stories, dirty stories)
And Baby does as he is told
The night is falling (Baby's crawling, voices calling)
Mommy's holding Daddy close
Baby hears her calling
"Give me just a little shove, this is love -"
This is

First we feel
Then we fall

The Tower's falling
I think the dam's about to burst
The walls are falling (hear them rumble, see them tumble)
The light is blinding, you go first
It starts with nothing ( out of nothing, into nothing)
First and last, last and first
There's just one question
Do you know the meaning of? -this is love,, this is love
(This is love, this is love
give me just a little shove
this is love-)
This is

First we feel
Then we fall

Richard Jolicoeur

Way ahead of their time ! I remember the first time I heard headless borg album and couldn’t believe how good it was :D

niko sorrentino

I Introduced a friend of mine to this a few months ago now she's obsessed with them
I'm so proud

Victor Alcantara

+niko sorrentino I started to listen to this band a few days ago, now I simply can't stop listening them!

Shawarma Boy

I guess you could say she's "Obsessed" (hehehehehehehe)

ADI KAOS

me too

Daniel Prohart

Well done, young apprentice.

Frazer Adamson

Met John Rob and Tom at a gig in London. Fucking great night! The GOATS

imnotyou andimglad

nomeansno for life. most powerful 3 piece ever live! for real

La cave de Papa Boyer

Aaaaaaah. C'est bon. Très bon.

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